Chapter 45: I Am Willing to Marry You

The entire place was frighteningly quiet; inside the room it was like deathly silence, everyone unconsciously holding their breath.

Once she confirmed Pei Chen was unharmed, Princess Yongle’s expression eased a little.

“Royal Aunt!” Second Prince, Xiao Hong hurried over, his face dark, “This is a misunderstanding, all a misunderstanding. Ning’er must have drunk too much, and in her drunken state said some nonsense.”

Inwardly, Xiao Hong cursed Xiao Ning for being a hopeless fool who ruined more than she ever accomplished, but outwardly he dared not show a trace of anger.

Princess Yongle gave no reply, only fixed her heavy gaze on Xiao Hong.

Did these people truly think she was old and dim-sighted, unable to see through their schemes?

“I beg Royal Aunt not to lower yourself to Ning’er’s level,” Xiao Hong spoke again.

Princess Yongle withdrew her gaze. “If she has drunk too much, then take her back to rest early.”

She then looked to the guests. “It is no great matter. All of you, enjoy yourselves.”

She ordered the female officials and momo beside her to attend to the guests. Naturally, the guests dared not linger; they scattered swiftly, though their curiosity burned over who it was that had been tangled with Princess He Yi.

But the scandals of the imperial clan were not for just anyone to witness.

“Royal Aunt…” Xiao Hong wanted to wriggle out one more time, but Princess Yongle cut him off directly: “Such a matter occurred in this palace. I will personally get to the bottom of it.”

She walked to the main hall and sat down. Xie Yao and the others naturally did not leave.

With Princess Yongle present, even if Xiao Hong wished to act, he had no chance. He could only sit as if on pins and needles at one side.

Very soon, Xiao Ning was brought over.

Her appearance was somewhat disheveled, her cheeks still flushed unnaturally. Supported into a seat, she looked on the verge of tears. “Royal Aunt, please see clearly. I was framed today.”

As she spoke, her watery gaze lingered on Pei Chen.

Yet Pei Chen sat upright and stern, not sparing her so much as a glance. Xiao Ning’s heart sank. She had been too hasty today.

But then—

“Princess, the man has arrived.” Led in by female officials was a young man, tall of build, his brocade robe in disarray, his eyes still hazy with confusion.

A flicker of surprise flashed across Xie Yao’s eyes, and she straightened slightly in her seat.

How could it be him?

“The Third Prince of Beijiang?” Princess Yongle’s voice also carried surprise.

For many years, the Xia Kingdom had warred with Beijiang in the north, until twenty years ago when Pei Chen’s father rose to power and drove Beijiang back step by step.

Since then, Beijiang had bowed to Xia and sent hostages to the capital as pledges of loyalty.

The weight of Princess Yongle’s authoritative voice snapped Hu Lianyuan, the Third Prince of Beijiang, to a degree of sobriety.

Seeing the scene before him, his legs went weak and he collapsed to the ground. “P-Princess… wh-what is happening here?”

Before long, palace physicians were summoned to take pulses for the pair.

“Princess, both Princess He Yi and the Third Prince were drugged. The drug was administered through the incense.”

Xiao Ning grew even more pitiful, lowering her head as tears fell. “Royal Aunt, you must uphold justice for me. I truly was framed!”

Hu Lianyuan too spoke up: “I was only strolling through the garden when suddenly I fainted, and when I woke…”

Princess Yongle’s eyes grew dark. “Investigate!”

Soon, a servant reported that they had found Song Wenbo unconscious in the flower bushes not far from the courtyard.

Xie Yao noticed that when Xiao Ning heard this news, her expression froze for an instant.

Her gaze fell on Hu Lianyuan.

The problem lay with him.

In her previous life, Xiao Ning and Song Wenbo had boasted gleefully about this very day. Xiao Ning had successfully ensnared Pei Chen, yet in truth nothing had happened with him.

Instead, she and Song Wenbo had carried on beside an unconscious Pei Chen.

Before Princess Yongle “discovered” them, Song Wenbo was discreetly sent away, while Xiao Ning secured her claim to Pei Chen.

Xiao Ning had called it “thrilling.”

But today, the one with Xiao Ning was Hu Lianyuan…

Had he been the one to knock Song Wenbo out?

As Xie Yao pondered, footsteps sounded again in the courtyard. “Princess, everyone who entered this courtyard today has been detained.”

What?!

Xiao Ning and Xiao Hong exchanged glances, their eyes filled with doubt and alarm.

What was going on?

Hadn’t those people all been dealt with already?

“Interrogate them.”

Princess Yongle’s voice was icy.

Pei Chen rose to his feet, cupping his hands. “Mother, allow your son to conduct the interrogation. I have the strength and means from years in the army.”

Princess Yongle glanced at him and gave a slight nod. “Very well.”

Xiao Hong’s lips twitched; he wanted to speak but dared not, for guilt weighed heavy in his heart.

Princess Yongle’s sharp gaze swept over Xiao Ning and the others. “What happened today will be reported to His Majesty exactly as it is.”

Xiao Ning’s sobbing hitched, but she had no recourse.

At Princess Yongle’s birthday banquet, to have such a scandal erupt, though the guests dared not openly gossip, every one of them paid close attention to Princess He Yi’s disgrace.

And soon enough, the adulterer’s identity spread inexplicably.

Pei Chen returned swiftly, but his expression was grim. “Mother, that maidservant only said she had been bribed, but she did not know by whom. The instructions were delivered through her family. When I sent men to her home, it was already deserted.”

The matter could be pursued further, but it would not be uncovered in a day or two.

“They came prepared.”

Princess Yongle’s voice was chilling, her eyes filled with frost. The plan had been so thorough; it was aimed squarely at Pei Chen.

Thankfully, Pei Chen was unharmed.

Xie Yao clearly saw that Xiao Ning and Xiao Hong’s postures did not change, but both of their clenched fists loosened slightly.

Princess Yongle’s sharp gaze settled on Xiao Ning, but the latter only kept her head lowered, crying softly, offering no words in her defense.

“Princess.”

Hu Lianyuan suddenly stood, stepping into the center. With the etiquette of the Xia Kingdom, he bowed. “Crown Prince, Second Prince, I ask you all to bear witness.”

He turned to Xiao Ning. “Princess He Yi, I am willing to take responsibility. I will marry you as my wife.”

Cultural Notes:

• Beijiang: Literally “Northern Frontier,” here referring to a rival northern kingdom/tribal state under Xia’s dominance.
• Hu Lianyuan: The Third Prince of Beijiang; his surname Hu Lian evokes a nomadic or frontier heritage.